He said: "Whilst we are in favour of sustainable energy production, had this development gone through it would have had a damaging impact on the character of the protected Green Belt and its wildlife."

A district council spokesman said: "The site is in the metropolitan Green Belt where there is a clear presumption against inappropriate development unless there are very special circumstances to outweigh Green Belt harm.

"The government's planning inspector agreed with the council's planning officers that there would be landscape harm which would not be outweighed by any potential green energy issues in this case."